Follow the author of this article

Follow the topics within this article

Don't forget your umbrella - today's forecast is expected to be a wet one for much of Britain with heavy and persistent rain in the west, spreading east across all areas of the country throughout the day.

If you live in the west of the country, the rain will clear leaving sunny periods and a few showers, some of which could be heavy and thundery.

However, much of the country will have a dry night with clear periods. It will be a breezy night, and a few showers are possible around western coasts, most especially for north-west Scotland and the Western Isles.

Here's a summary of what the weather will be like in key areas of Britain today.

The weather forecast for 1pm today.Credit:
Met Office

London

It is going to be wet with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, generally light, although the odd heavier burst is possible. A drier evening but still cloudy. Cooler with a moderate south-westerly wind. Max temp 18-21C (64-70F).

South West

It is going to be mixed with rain, heavy at first, clearing to leave long sunny periods and a few isolated showers later. A dry evening with spells of late sunshine. Cooler with a fresh south-westerly wind. Max temp 18-21C (64-70F).

Manchester

It will be mixed with heavy rain clearing to sunshine and showers during the afternoon. Fresh south-easterly winds. Max temp 16-19C (61-66F).

Berkshire/Surrey/Hampshire

It is expected to be cloudy and wet with patchy rain or drizzle. Most of the rain will be light, but a heavier burst is possible. A drier but still quite cloudy evening. Cooler with a moderate south-westerly breeze. Max temp 17-20C (63-68F).

The Midlands

It looks set to be wet with outbreaks of rain, possibly heavy at times through the course of the day. A drier but still quite cloudy evening. Moderate southerly winds. Max temp 17-20C (63-68F).

Leeds and Sheffield

After a dry start with some early brightness possible, it will turn cloudy and wet with persistent rain this afternoon. A dry end to the day with some late spells of sunshine. Moderate southerly winds. Max temp 18-21C (64-70F).

Glasgow

It will be mixed with cloud and heavy rain clearing to leave long sunny periods and showers during the afternoon. Gentle westerly winds. A cooler day. Max temp 15-18C (59-64F).

Edinburgh

It will be cloudy and wet with drizzle and rain, heavy for a while during the late morning and early afternoon. The rain will then become lighter, to leave a dry evening with spells of late sunshine. Moderate westerly winds. Max temp 16-19C (61-66F).

Wales

It will be cloudy with heavy rain for a while in South Wales. Sunny periods and scattered showers during the afternoon. A drier evening but still cloudy. Cooler with a brisk westerly wind. Max temp 17-20C (63-68F).

In North Wales, it is going to be mixed with heavy rain clearing to sunshine and showers during the afternoon. A dry end to the day with some late spells of sunshine. Fresh southerly winds. Humid. Max temp 18-21C (64-70F).

Northern Ireland

It will be mixed with rain, heavy at first, clearing to long sunny periods and also a few showers spreading in from the west - some of these could be heavy and thundery. Moderate south-westerly winds. Max temp 16-19C (61-66F).

What will the weather be like tomorrow and Friday?

Tomorrow will be a breezy day of sunny spells and showers. Some of these will be heavy and thundery, and will be most numerous in the west, and potentially also in the south. Showers easing later.

Further heavy showers and sunny spells in the north on Friday. In the south, after a dry start, there will be the risk of persistent rain pushing in from the south-west later in the day, although there is some uncertainty over the exact track and timing of this.